Using the race as part of the buildup for his world championship title defence, Thor Hushovd will target a strong performance at the Tour of Britain, which begins on September 11th.
The Norwegian will be at the helm of a strong Garmin-Cervélo team, and will be joined by British riders David Millar, Daniel Lloyd and Roger Hammond, the New Zealand competitor Julian Dean and the strong Dutchman Martin Maaskant.
Hushovd had hoped to ride the Vuelta a España but with general manager Jonathan Vaughters selecting different riders for the race, the Norwegian will turn his sights towards a strong showing in the eight-day British event.
He had a superb Tour de France, wearing the yellow jersey for a week and winning two stages. It was the best Tour performance in recent years by a world champion, and earned considerable publicity for himself and his team.
Retaining his rainbow jersey is his big end of season goal and with the Tour of Britain finishing a week before this year’s worlds, he will race hard in order to give himself the best possible chance of taking another gold. The race will also be his final chance to clock up victories prior to the championships.
Race director Mick Bennett knows that because of the attention the rainbow jersey will bring, having Hushovd is a big boost to the event. “We are very pleased to have such a strong Garmin Cervélo line-up racing at this year’s Tour of Britain, and very much look forward to welcoming the current World Champion Thor Hushovd to The Tour,” he said.
The fact that the Garmin-Cervélo team is sending three well-known British names will also be a plus for the supporters and the race. “British fans will also be looking forward to seeing Roger Hammond, Dan Lloyd and David Millar in action,” he continued. “We saw during the Eneco Tour that David is currently in great form, so I’m sure he will be highly motivated to do well in The TfL London Stage Individual Time Trial.”
Hushovd will be moving to the BMC Racing Team next season, and so the Tour of Britain will be one of his final events with the team.
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Provisional Garmin Cervélo lineup for Tour of Britain:
Julian Dean (NZl); Roger Hammond (GBr); Thor Hushovd (Nor); Daniel Lloyd (GBr); Martijn Maaskant (Ned); David Millar (GBr)
Reserves: Brett Lancaster (Aus); Cameron Meyer (Aus); Gabriel Rasch (Nor)